the headers of you linux version (uname -a to display it), the package name is linux-headers-…

make

gcc

Attention, with the current alpha install of squeeze, the default kernel is 2.6.32-trunk which is no more available in debian repository. You have to switch to the current 2.6.
You can also install debian from the businesscard cd image which install the correct kernel image.

root@debian:~/vmware-tools-distrib# ./vmware-install.pl
Creating a new VMware Tools installer database using the tar4 format.
Installing VMware Tools.
In which directory do you want to install the binary files?
[/usr/bin]
What is the directory that contains the init directories (rc0.d/ to rc6.d/)?
[/etc]
What is the directory that contains the init scripts?
[/etc/init.d]
In which directory do you want to install the daemon files?
[/usr/sbin]
In which directory do you want to install the library files?
[/usr/lib/vmware-tools]
In which directory do you want to install the documentation files?
[/usr/share/doc/vmware-tools]
The path "/usr/share/doc/vmware-tools" does not exist currently. This program
is going to create it, including needed parent directories. Is this what you
want? [yes]
The installation of VMware Tools 8.4.2 build-261024 for Linux completed
successfully. You can decide to remove this software from your system at any
time by invoking the following command: "/usr/bin/vmware-uninstall-tools.pl".
Before running VMware Tools for the first time, you need to configure it by
invoking the following command: "/usr/bin/vmware-config-tools.pl". Do you want
this program to invoke the command for you now? [yes]
Initializing...
Stopping VMware Tools services in the virtual machine:
Guest operating system daemon: done
Virtual Printing daemon: done
Unmounting HGFS shares: done
Guest filesystem driver: done
Before you can compile modules, you need to have the following installed...
make
gcc
kernel headers of the running kernel
Searching for GCC...
Detected GCC binary at "/usr/bin/gcc-4.3".
The path "/usr/bin/gcc-4.3" appears to be a valid path to the gcc binary.
Would you like to change it? [no]
Searching for a valid kernel header path...
Detected the kernel headers of the running kernel at
"/lib/modules/2.6.32-5-amd64/build/include".
The path "/lib/modules/2.6.32-5-amd64/build/include" appears to be a valid path
to the kernel headers of the running kernel.
Would you like to change it? [no]
Using 2.6.x kernel build system.
make: entrant dans le répertoire « /tmp/vmware-root/modules/vmmemctl-only »
make -C /lib/modules/2.6.32-5-amd64/build/include/.. SUBDIRS=$PWD SRCROOT=$PWD/. \
MODULEBUILDDIR= modules
make[1]: entrant dans le répertoire « /usr/src/linux-headers-2.6.32-5-amd64 »
CC [M] /tmp/vmware-root/modules/vmmemctl-only/backdoorGcc64.o
CC [M] /tmp/vmware-root/modules/vmmemctl-only/os.o
CC [M] /tmp/vmware-root/modules/vmmemctl-only/vmballoon.o
LD [M] /tmp/vmware-root/modules/vmmemctl-only/vmmemctl.o
.....
.....
.....
make[1]: « postbuild » est à jour.
make[1]: quittant le répertoire « /tmp/vmware-root/modules/pvscsi-only »
cp -f pvscsi.ko ./../pvscsi.o
make: quittant le répertoire « /tmp/vmware-root/modules/pvscsi-only »
No X install found.
Creating a new initrd boot image for the kernel.
update-initramfs: Generating /boot/initrd.img-2.6.32-5-amd64
Checking acpi hot plug done
Starting VMware Tools services in the virtual machine:
Switching to guest configuration: done
Paravirtual SCSI module: done
Guest filesystem driver: done
Mounting HGFS shares: failed
Guest memory manager: done
VM communication interface: done
VM communication interface socket family: done
Blocking file system: done
Guest operating system daemon: done
Virtual Printing daemon: done
The configuration of VMware Tools 8.4.2 build-261024 for Linux for this running
kernel completed successfully.
You must restart your X session before any mouse or graphics changes take
effect.
You can now run VMware Tools by invoking "/usr/bin/vmware-toolbox-cmd" from the
command line or by invoking "/usr/bin/vmware-toolbox" from the command line
during an X server session.
To enable advanced X features (e.g., guest resolution fit, drag and drop, and
file and text copy/paste), you will need to do one (or more) of the following:
1. Manually start /usr/bin/vmware-user
2. Log out and log back into your desktop session; and,
3. Restart your X session.
Enjoy,
--the VMware team
root@debian:~/vmware-tools-distrib#